Little Rock, Arkansas – The United States government is being urged by a resolution in the Arkansas House to designate fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and to label drug cartels as terrorist groups.
“This is a real crisis,” Rep. Marcus Richmond said.
It’s the startling figures related to fentanyl and overdose.
“Over 100,000 people a year are dying from fentanyl and that comes to about 196 people a day,” Richmond said.
“In 2021 alone, we lost around 107,000 Americans to overdose, and 66% of those were fentanyl-related,” Nicole Haynes said.
Haynes lost her sister Kaleigh to a fentanyl overdose more than two years ago.
With a house resolution, the Arkansas legislature is now urging the United States government to designate fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and to classify drug cartels as terrorist groups.
“It is a small part of the package that we in Arkansas are saying, this state, we are being serious about this issue. we want something done,” Richmond stated.
“Fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction,” Hayes said. ” I don’t see this slowing down anytime soon unless the united stated government takes a stand and that we have a plan in place.”
“My heart stopped for a minute. this is what I have wanted for a little over two years now,” Haynes said.
Haynes declared that she will work tirelessly until her last breath to put an end to the fentanyl war and carry on her sister’s legacy.
“Fighting this war on fentanyl, I feel that she would be so proud, she is proud,” Haynes said.
Labeling the drug cartels include going after their fentanyl labs, according to U.S. senators. But, according to the Biden Administration, the terrorist label is superfluous.
The Arkansas House Committee will hear the resolution.